Biggest Winners and Losers from the 2026 NBA Draft Round 1
The first round of the 2026 NBA draft is in the books! We will commemorate the occasion in one of the only ways we know how: with a fresh batch of winners and losers from Day 1 of the Association's prospect pageant.
Hot takes are coming. Mistakes will be made. That is the hazard of these (totally necessary) reflexive reactions.
We make no apologies. Expect none. Not until later, anyway. Bookmark this for receipts months and years down the line.Ā
For now, from steals and reaches to direct impacts and trickle-down effects to rumors and completed transactions, here's a handful of players and teams who should be feeling good or not-so-good based on what happened Tuesday night.
Winner: Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz
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Ace Bailey's role and future with the Utah Jazz would have immediately come under scrutiny if AJ Dabyntsa fell to No. 2 or the front office traded up to get him. He can breathe easy knowing neither scenario played out.
Darryn Peterson is headed to the Jazz instead. He is much less of an existential threat to Bailey's importance. Peterson's high school film is inundated with self-created possessions, but he cut his teeth playing off the ball at Kansas.
Equally critical, there is no positional overlap between the two. Listed at 6'6", Peterson might be able to soak up minutes outside the backcourt. That will not be his default. The same can't be said for the 6'9" Dybantsa.
Pecking-order politics must still be navigated in Utah. Bailey is not suddenly immune to them with Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. populating the frontcourt.
But the 19-year-old has already shown he can defend different positions while filling gaps away from the ball on the offensive end. His fit with these Jazz was never going to be hopeless. It just feels a lot cleaner now.
Loser: Bilal Coulibaly
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No, no, no. This has nothing to do with the Washington Wizards inexplicably ponying up so much for Trae Young that it shows they are definitely going to overpay the extension-eligible Anthony Davis and declare they're unable to bankroll the also-extension-eligible Bilal Coulibaly's next deal.
It has everything to do with the 21-year-old's suddenly shaky spot in the rotation and bigger picture following the arrival of AJ Dybantsa.
Washington has wings for days with Coulibaly, Dybantsa, Kyshawn George, Justin Champagnie, Will Riley and Cam Whitmore. Coulibaly has all of his peers beat on the defensive end. But a team planning to play Davis and Alex Sarr together needs spacing. Coulibaly has yet to prove he can consistently knock down threes.
Bake in George's breakout 2025-26, and the Dybantsa pick may now mean that Bilalcatraz has been leap-frogged in the pecking order twice over. That's not ideal in a vacuum. It's even worse when he's entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Winner: Isaiah Hartenstein Suitors
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The Oklahoma City Thunder Summer Shred is already underway. They dumped Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, saving more than $75 million in salary and taxes. With almost $30 million to go before they duck the second apron, they aren't done yet, either.
If Oklahoma City's selection of Aday Mara at No. 12 is any indication, Isaiah Hartenstein could be the next name on the chopping block.Ā
Though the Michigan alum isn't a perfect analog for iHart, he's absolutely massive at 7'3" and an excellent passer. He also profiles as an imposing rim protector and nifty finisher around the hoop. (Think: What if Donovan Clingan had better hands and vision.)
Conventional wisdom suggests that Mara, if anything, is the heir apparent to Hartenstein rather than an immediate replacement. It would be somewhat shocking if the Thunder decline the latter's $28.5 million team option or offload him into another team's cap again.
At the same time, this feels more possible than it did prior to the draft. Failing an immediate move, the investment in Mara could compel Oklahoma City to pick up Hartenstein's team option and play out next year rather than re-sign him to a long-term deal.Ā
Either way, whether it's now or slightly later, iHart suitors have a reason to pump their fists and cross their fingers (extra tightly).
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Loser: Atlanta Hawks
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Would you rather have Kingston Flemings and Asa Newell or Derik Queen? We're asking for the Atlanta Hawks.
Last year's trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, while still a home-run in value, has lost some of its sheen now that the No. 8 pick turned into Flemings. His athleticism, ability to generate separation from mid-range and knack for creating looks at the rim are inarguable. So, too, is his defensive effort. But the fit isn't peachy keen.
Flemings shot 38.7 percent from deep at Houston yet attempted under three triples per game. As someone touted for his finishing, his efficiency at the rim was no great shakes. Mid-range shot creation has value, but the spacing in a rotation with limited deadeye marksmen could get wonky.
To that end, there is a not-insignificant chance Flemings struggles to see the floor as a rookie. He'll need to prove he can be a strong off-ball player alongside some combination of Jalen Johnson, CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. That's before getting into whether he can play beside Dyson Daniels or Jonathan Kuminga (team option).
Drafting for fit in the top 10 is typically frowned upon. But there's a real debate over whether Flemings was even the best player available. Aday Mara or Brayden Burries would have been comfier fits without undermining floor-to-ceiling value.
Winner: Chicago Bulls
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Exiting the first round with Caleb Wilson at No. 4 and Dailyn Swain at No. 15 is tremendous business for the Chicago Bulls.
Sure, Chi-Town didn't technically have a decision with their first selection. Unless you are smitten with Mikel Brown Jr. or Keaton Wagler, Wilson is the consensus fourth-best prospect in the class. The Bulls were always going to default to whomever the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies left on the board.
Still, between Wilson, Swain and the decision to pick up Nicolas Claxton for nothing (other than cap space), Chicago is forging a clear identity under senior vice president Bryson Graham. Add in Matas Buzelis and even Leonard Miller, and this team is going to be long, switchable and disruptive.
Granted, it could take a while for the vision to crystallize. Rookies aren't always dominant out of the gate. But Wilson's defense has drawn comps to Scottie Barnes, while Swain gives off Kyshawn George-Nickeil Alexander-Walker hybrid vibes.
So while the Bulls aren't necessarily back, they're well on their way to being both coherent and fun.
Loser: Boston Celtics
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It turns out Jaylen Brown's availability wasn't limited to a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Tuesday night that the Boston Celtics are officially taking calls on their two-time All-NBA wing.Ā
The motivation behind this remains to be seen. A multitude of factors could be at play, including the balance of Brown's contract (three years, $183.1 million); his getting a taste of being the No. 1 option last season and wanting that to continue; or even the Celtics getting so far down the road in Giannis talks that there's no going back with JB.
Regardless of the reasoning, Boston will be hard-pressed to emerge from this better for wear.Ā
Turning Brown and other stuff into Giannis would have been enough of a risk given Antetokounmpo's age, recent injury history and extension eligibility. At least in that scenario, though, Boston would be acquiring a better player.Ā
That almost assuredly isn't going to happen in other potential trades. The Celtics are more likely to accept an offer built around high-impact depth and draft picks than another All-NBA player. Perhaps that ends up being the right call. Clearly, though, it wasn't Plan A.
In the event Brown doesn't go anywhere, Boston isn't necessarily off the hook. This is the second time its willingness to move him has gone public. The Celtics went after Kevin Durant back in 2023, a pursuit that would have probably come at the expense of Brown.Ā
Working relationships will need to be repaired. Trust must be rebuilt. Assuming that's even possible.
Winner: Memphis Grizzlies
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Getting Cam Boozer at No. 3 will be an offensive boon for the Memphis Grizzlies' frontcourt. They won't be very mobile when he's sharing the floor with Zach Edey, but the Duke product's offensive skill set is so vast he doesn't have a good comp. Pure forwards aren't supposed to have such polished handles or initiate pick-and-rolls so effortlessly.
Truth be told, though, the Grizzlies' work outside the lottery does most of the heavy lifting here.
They moved No. 16 to the Oklahoma City Thunder for No. 17 and two second-rounders. Then, they proceeded to flip No. 17 to the Detroit Pistons for No. 21 and three second-round picks.
Amassing five additional second-rounders in exchange for dropping five spots in the draft order is great asset management by the front office. Whether those picks become cost-controlled fliers or trade sweeteners doesn't matter. That they could be either is the point.
Memphis increased its optionality both now and later without having to sacrifice much. (And yes, it helps that the Grizzlies used No. 21 on Karim LĆ³pez, a potential reach who's nevertheless drawn offensive comps to Franz Wagner with a better jumper.)
Loser: Anyone Hoping for Fireworks in the Lottery
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Were you among those hoping for a splashy draft-day trade? Or a shockingly high rise through the lottery?
Or even a stunningly precipitous fall outside the lottery?
Well, you weren't alone. But you were left disappointed.
Not only were there no draft-day lottery trades, but it pretty much went chalk. Bleacher Report draft guru Jonathan Wasserman correctly nailed the first seven selections in his final mock. Thirteen of the 14 players he had going in the lottery also came off the board before pick No. 15.
Glorious work by Wass. But I speak for all transaction junkies and wild-card enthusiasts when I say: Where were all the curveballs?
Dan Favale is a National NBA Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Bluesky (@danfavale), and subscribe to theĀ Hardwood KnocksĀ podcast, co-hosted by Bleacher Report'sĀ Grant Hughes.
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